Thank you to all who joined us for our compost giveaway event. We are always impressed with how our community shows up.
Questions about the event or how to use your compost? Reach out to the Waste & Recycling team at wasteandrecycling@cochrane.ca or 403-851-2277.
Learn more about how to use your compost
How compost helps your soil
- Compost contains nutrients that your plants need for optimum growth, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
- Nutrients are released at the rate your plants need them.
- Increases water-holding capacity of soil.
- Acts as a pH buffer so plants are less dependent on a specific soil pH.
How to use your compost
Lawn top dressing
Every fall or spring (or both) add 1” of compost on top of your lawn. Work it in easily with a pitchfork or shovel and incorporate it into the top 6” of soil. Garden soil that has been well-mulched and amended periodically requires only about a ½” layer of compost yearly to maintain its quality.
When you plant
There is simply no better way to get your plants off to a great start than working in compost at the time of planting. No matter what you are planting – flowers, annuals, perennials, shrubs or vegetables — mix compost in the hole! For tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other vegetables, add no more than 15% compost to your soil before dropping the plants in.
Potting soil
Blend fine-textured compost in your potting mixture. Compost should be no more than 20% of the potting mixture volume.
IMPORTANT
Please be aware that from time to time you may find foreign objects in the compost. Use of gardening gloves when handling is recommended.